In some of the Indian traditions, the number of tastes are said to be six: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy and astringent. In this must-read piece at NPR, Robert Krulwich, writes about the number of tastes in the western tradition (four), the discovery of receptor cells in the tongue for these tastes, and the recent addition to the basic tastes (umami); the piece itself is an introduction to Jonah Lehrer’s Proust was a Neuroscientist and is followed by a short excerpt from the book. Take a look!
Tags: , arusuvai, basic tastes, Proust was a neuroscientist, umami
